With rising complaints about call drops and poor connectivity, Wi-Fi calling can offer coverage extension when cellular network signals cannot reach the customer, indoors and elsewhere, the latest white paper published by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) said on Wednesday.

The paper discusses the significant role Wi-Fi calling can play in addressing industry issues such as coverage, as well as highlights the gaps in the market to help promote the deployment, use and growing momentum of Wi-Fi calling.

“Wi-Fi calling can offer coverage extension when cellular network signals cannot reach the customer, indoors and elsewhere. It can also act more efficiently than its more expensive counterpoints, like small cells and distributed antenna system (DAS), to deliver a ‘Universal Wireless Service’ to consumers that have access to Wi-Fi networks,” the paper said.

The white paper is titled ‘Wi-Fi Calling: Opportunities and Challenges towards 5G’. “Interest in Wi-Fi calling is rapidly growing due to changing market dynamics, customer expectations and voice over LTE (VoLTE) deployment. It’s increasingly becoming clear that it is no longer a case of if operators will deploy Wi-Fi calling, it’s a matter of when,” said Shrikant Shenwai, CEO, Wireless Broadband Alliance.

“There is an enormous opportunity for mobile operators to capitalize on hundreds of millions of readily available Wi-Fi access points to offer Wi-Fi calling service and to provide the coverage that customers increasingly expect. With our expertise and experience, we want to help create best practices and ultimately drive the next wireless experience for people all around the world,” he added.